Channel 10 cancels MasterChef Australia as judge Jock Zonfrillo dies age 46 on eve of the premiere

Channel Ten has announced MasterChef Australia will be postponed following the shock death of judge Jock Zonfrillo at age 46.

The fifteenth season of the cooking show was set to premiere on Monday but Ten has confirmed it will not be airing this week in light of Zonfrillo’s passing.

The Scottish-Australian chef hosted the popular show since 2019 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.

His family confirmed he had died in Melbourne on Sunday at the age of 46.

Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and Alfie and Isla, with Fried.

Channel 10 has cancelled MasterChef Australia after news Jock Zonfrillo had died on the eve of the premiere

No cause of death has been disclosed. 

‘With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,’ his family said in a statement on Monday.

‘So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we’re too overwhelmed to put them into words.

‘For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky.’

They continued: ‘We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this, and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend.’

The fifteenth season of the cooking show was set to premiere on Monday but Channel Ten has confirmed it will not be airing this week in light of Zonfrillo’s passing 

Channel Ten and production company Endemol Shine Australia said in a statement: ‘[We] are deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the MasterChef Australia family.

‘Jock passed away in Melbourne yesterday. Jock was known to Australians as a chef, best-selling author, philanthropist and MasterChef judge but he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband, brother and son.

‘Determined and talented and with plenty of grit, Jock was born in Glasgow to an Italian father and a Scottish mother, which meant his formative years were heavily influenced by two strong cultures and it was his obsession with food and desire for a new pushbike that at just 12 years old fuelled Jock to knock on kitchen doors looking for a job.

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‘Jock’s love and passion for food saw him become one of the youngest culinary students to do an apprenticeship at The Turnberry Hotel at just 15 years of age. From that point onwards there was no holding him back and by 17 he was working alongside Marco Pierre White at his eponymous Restaurant Marco Pierre White.

The Scottish-Australian chef has hosted the popular show since 2019 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong

‘Throughout his career he worked with world famous chefs and in restaurants all over the world. His talent saw him shine in the world’s most formidable kitchens and he opened Bistro Blackwood and Restaurant Orana in Adelaide after moving to Australia.

‘Jock’s Restaurant Orana was recognised with the coveted distinction of three hats in both 2019 and 2020 and he also received global accolades, accepting the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in 2018.

‘In 2019, Jock was named as a judge on MasterChef Australia in which he took great pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home cooks.

‘Jock’s charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured. He will be greatly missed.’

Zonfrillo’s family confirmed he had died in Melbourne on Sunday at the age of 46

Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and Alfie and Isla, with Fried. (Zonfrillo with Fried and their two children are seen here in a recent family photo)

Zonfrillo famously overcame a heroin addiction as a teenager in Glasgow to become one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs.

He was known for being the former head chef at Sydney’s Restaurant 41 and for opening the award-winning Restaurant Orana and Street ADL in Adelaide.

In 2018, the year before he joined MasterChef, he was named Australia’s Hottest Chef by The Australian newspaper.

That year, Orana was also named Australia’s best restaurant by the Good Food Guide.

Restaurant Orana closed its doors in 2020 when it went into voluntary administration with debts totalling $3.2 million.

Channel Ten and production company Endemol Shine Australia said in a statement: ‘[We] are deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the MasterChef Australia family’